Garden Inspired Health and Well-Being

Sure, we all know the many virtues of extra-virgin olive oil. Or do we? Below is a list of some perhaps surprising uses and benefits to be realized from these olive oil remedies in ways you may not have heard of before. Take a look.

Goodbye Gingivitis

Do you suffer from puffy, bleeding gums and foul mouth odor? If so, then chances are good that you could be suffering from gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gums. Regular brushing, flossing, dental checkups and cleanings are must-do preventative measures. But, olive oil can greatly assist in fighting red, swollen gums and warding off periodontal problems, which can lead to tooth loss.

To help combat gingivitis, simply give a thorough 1-2 minute rinse (don’t swallow!) with a mixture of 1 Tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil and 1 teaspoon of water. Studies have shown that this olive oil remedy can decrease plaque (the sticky substance that turns into tartar), which usually only a dental cleaning can remove. If you want to fend off periodontal disease and save your pearly whites, then it’s definitely worth adding into your oral hygiene routine.

Hangover Helper

When you have over-indulged in a bit of alcohol, the symptoms can be quite nasty and include nausea, a pounding headache, sensitivity to light and sound, and lethargy. One way to help you quickly overcome your hangover symptoms, is to this time indulge in something called the “Olive Oil Prairie Cocktail“. The “Olive Oil Prairie Cocktail” consists of mixing together 1 Tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil, 1 Tablespoon of ketchup and 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a “shooter glass”. This olive oil mixture cleanses and soothes both the gallbladder and liver, 2 main detoxification organs, as well as help calm the queezies in your stomach. And by the way….while there are literally hundreds of versions of “prairie cocktail” floating around, this one does NOT contain any alcohol. Remember, you want to purge your body of alcohol, not give it more to deal with.

Toothache Tamer

Nothing spells misery like a toothache can. If one of your teeth, whether a back molar or any of your front teeth are throbbing, one of the most effective, tried-and-true remedies to relieve that pain is oil of clove. And back when doctors still made house calls, this was often the treatment of choice. These days, not too many people keep oil of clove in their medicine cabinet. However, if you find yourself with a toothache, you can very quickly whip up this homemade version. Simply take 2 Tablespoons of whole cloves, and pulse in either a blender, food processor or coffee grinder, until in powder form. Or, if you have powdered clove spice, you can use the equivalent in the already powdered form. Now mix 1 Tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil with the 2 Tablespoons of powdered clove and mix until well blended. Taking either a cotton-tip swab or cotton ball, generously swab the inflicted tooth and the gum region all around it. This should bring quick, yet temporary relief. You still need to get to a dentist, but this will hold-off the pain until you can get in to see him.

Goodbye Gallbladder Problems

It’s no secret that being overweight is a risk factor for gallstones. Also, if you have high cholesterol and eat fatty foods, you are probably experiencing gallbladder trouble already. Gallbladder “attacks” can occur suddenly, and happen frequently or sporadic. Regardless of how often you experience this misery, you absolutely must address this health concern right away. Your very first course of action is to clean-up your eating habits, and start a regular exercise routine. In addition to that, it is highly beneficial to incorporate a olive oil drink every day, to expedite your cleansing and healing of your gallbladder. Each morning for 1 week, and 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything else, drink 2 Tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil followed by 6-8 ounces of pure grapefruit juice (no sugar added). This drink concoction helps the gallbladder break-up stones and debris, and to contract and cleanse itself.

Calm A Cough

Frequent coughing and that annoying “tickle” in your throat is no fun at all, especially when it keeps you and your family up at night. Or, even if your coughing attack happens during the day. Often a constant cough that isn’t related to emphysema or bronchitis is usually due to a cold or allergens. Taking 1 Teaspoon – 1 Tablespoon of extra-virgin olive, can quickly help you calm that cough, as it lubricates and calms the back of your throat. And it doesn’t have undesirable ingredients that many commercial cough syrups do, so you and your family can take it safely.

Diaper Rash Rescue

The Italian’s have long used this “wash oil” to soothe the redness and pain of a baby’s tender bottom that is due to diaper rash. To make this “wash oil”, simply mix together 2 teaspoons of extra-virgin olive oil and 1 teaspoon of water. Shake until you get a pasty emulsion that you can spread onto your baby’s bottom. You can mix-up larger quantities, and keep in a squirt bottle, so you’ll always have some ready to use. Just be sure to shake thoroughly for a minute to mix before each use.

Lose The Lice

Kids often pick-up these pesky critters from school or the playground. This olive oil remedy is so much safer for your children than the commercial lice products, which contain harsh chemicals, as well as pesticides!Olive oil acts as a suffocatingagent to kill the lice. It is important to tackle this problem as quickly as possible, for the most effective results. To use, warm enough olive oil (being sure that it is cool enough to apply to your child’s scalp) to completely cover your child’s scalp and hair. Wearing disposable gloves and using a wide-tooth comb, followed by a finer-tooth comb, work the olive oil thoroughly throughout your child’s hair and massaging into the scalp. Leave sit for 30 – 60 minutes, then shampoo twice. The sooner you attack the lice, the more successful you’ll be at ridding them with one treatment. If your child’s scalp is completely infested, then leave the olive oil on longer, and do multiple treatments, such as twice a day, and several days in a row. Be sure to wash all linens, suspected clothing and school bags, to ensure that no lice or eggs are left behind to re-infest.

So, there you have it. Some amazing and unsuspecting olive oil remedies. If any of the aforementioned situations should arise, why not give one of these olive oil remedies a try.